Another old buddy gone. My condolences to the entire Butera family. Lou was a great family man, they meant everything to him (six kids with his wonderful wife Carrie) and he worked hard to support his growing family. You think Pool was tough now, it was a lot tougher in his era.
He worked behind the desk at the old Marina Billiards in the early 70's and after work would jump into the $20 Ring Ten Ball game with the likes of Ronnie, Richie, Jack Cooney, Jim Marino and Jimmy Reid. Talk about tough action! Lou had to win or he would lose all the money he worked for all day. And he would beat that game regularly, definitely the hungriest player in the bunch.
He was the acknowledged best long session Straight Pool player alive in the 70's and into the 80's. No one was the favorite against him if they played a 1,000 point match (kind of like the Race to 100 9-Ball we see today). He was capable of putting a 200 on you at any moment. He ran more balls faster than anyone before or since, once running 150 and out to win the World Championship in 21 minutes! I think his victim that time was Hopkins.
Lou would shoot, then race around the table to be ready when the cue ball stopped rolling, then he would one stroke it and shoot again that quick. Kind of like Luc Salvas and Tony Drago, except for one thing. Lou didn't miss! He was deadly accurate - hard shot, cut shot, combination, it made no difference. The crowd loved him and he was one of the most popular players of his era, always drawing the biggest crowds for his matches. Lou was a real showman too, bantering back and forth with the audience, lamenting a bad roll and exulting after some good fortune. He LOVED to play pool and perform, the table his stage.
I have a tear in my eye now for my old friend and colleague. He always greeted me with a big smile and then would launch into stories past and present. We had some adventures together, sometimes he would say "bet on me" and I did. He would come up to my first poolroom and Bakersfield to do an exhibition and we would play 9-Ball and Straight Pool. I actually won one of our 9-Ball matches 11-9 and he repaid me with 150 and out that night! I love you Lou!
